EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATIC EVENTS
EXTREME RAIN EVENTS
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Deadly Flooding and Landslides Hit Burundi Capital
Flooding and landslides triggered by Extreme Rain Events in the Burundi capital of Bujumbura swept away hundreds of homes, cutting off roads, leaving many people dead or missing, and many more injured, according to officials.
“The rain that fell in torrents overnight on the capital caused a disaster,” Security Minister Nizigama told reporters.
“We have already found the bodies of 51 people killed when their houses collapsed or were swept away.”
An Extreme Rain Event , which lasted more than 10 hours overnight, caused widespread flooding, cut power to the entire city, washed away roads and destroyed crops.
“The road leading out of the capital to neighboring Rwanda was blocked because of a landslide while a bridge was washed away on the road to the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said a report.
Bujumbura (Population: ~ 900,000)is the capital, largest city, and main port of Burundi, located on the northeastern shore of Lake Tanganyika.